Ref dropped after Thatcher horror challenge

Dermot Gallagher has been dropped from the League Two match he was due to referee today after failing to send Ben Thatcher off for the Manchester City defender’s crude challenge on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes on Wednesday.

Thatcher has been suspended by City and charged with serious foul play by the Football Association following the incident which put Mendes in hospital.

Gallagher, who only booked Thatcher, was due to take charge of Bristol Rovers’ match against Shrewsbury this afternoon.

But Tim Vine, spokesman for the Professional Game Match Officials Board, told The Daily Mirror: “Dermot has been removed on the basis of his handling of the incident on Wednesday night.”

Andre Warriner will now take charge of the League Two match.